‘But he has three children.’
‘I didn’t say he was incapable, merely that he’s lost interest. He did what he saw as his duty and then immersed himself in his career, which he finds more stimulating. Most wives would be glad to be left alone, one imagines, but Ida is one of the few exceptions that prove that rule. She obviously has either a very high sex drive or a significant lack of self-esteem.’
‘Lack of self-esteem?’ Salter dug the end of his pencil into his hair and scratched. ‘I’ve never met anyone more comfortable in her own skin.’
‘We don’t know what happened to cause her disgrace in her early years, Jack, but whatever it was blighted her life.’
‘And now she wears her tarnished reputation like a badge of honour,’ Salter growled.
‘What other option does she have, other than to withdraw into her shell? She’s still an attractive woman, and I happen to know that she was exquisite in her younger days. If I were a gambling man, I would wager a lot on her having been deceived and compromised by some disreputable cove. I will try to find out, but I doubt whether it will have any bearing on this case. Anyway, as I was saying, she probably thinks that satisfying men’s carnal desires is all she’s good for, so she pretends to enjoy it. Perhaps she does enjoy it, in which case it seems unreasonable that she should be asked to suppress her needs simply because her husband has neither the time nor the inclination to satisfy them. If it were the other way around and Sir Philip was obliged to look elsewhere for gratification, you would be far less outraged.’
‘Perhaps. But you know me, sir, I don’t approve of adultery, no matter what justification there might be for it. Wedding vows ought to be taken seriously, otherwise what’s the point?’
‘A philosophical discussion that we shall save for another day. But for now, time’s getting on and my family is dining with us tonight.’
‘Right you are, sir. Anything you need me to do in the meantime?’
‘We’ll come at this fresh in the morning, Jack. There are alibis to check, and I suspect that you and I shall be paying a visit to Clapham. I want to talk to Ezra’s family, and to the landlord of the tavern where he spent his last night on this earth. I dare say he had partners in this sporting club venture. It would be useful to find them.’
The two detectives left the library and Gregg materialised, bearing their hats. They thanked him and left the house. Riley and Salter parted on the pavement. Salter was bound for the railway station. Riley took a cab to Eaton Square, feeling intrigued by the case he was charged with investigating, but aware that he would be distracted from its ramifications for the entire evening.
‘Sorry to be so late,’ Riley said, walking into Amelia’s dressing room as she put the final touches to her toilette. ‘Criminals have no consideration for my social obligations.’
‘A new case, one assumes,’ Amelia replied, dismissing her maid and then turning up her face to receive Riley’s kiss.
‘Salacious too.’
He told her a little about Ida’s circumstances, and could see that Amelia was both amused and shocked. ‘Poor Sergeant Salter,’ she said. ‘I dare say he is outraged.’
‘He’ll get over it.’
‘You sound as though you are acquainted with Lady Randall and like her. Should I be worried?’
‘I met her at someone’s house not long after I left university.’
‘And she attempted to get her claws into you, one imagines.’
Riley smiled. ‘She terrified me and I had the good sense to steer well clear of her. You won’t know her from our social circle, but there are one or two members of her family who would like to alter that situation.’
‘And who have good reason to do away with an inconvenient embarrassment, I dare say.’
‘Quite.’ Riley paused to choose his words with care. ‘Naturally, we shall not mention anything about this in front of my mother, although I dare say the evening newspapers have got wind of the death. Hopefully, that is all they will know. Henry will be here tonight and I believe he was once well acquainted with Ida.’
Amelia bestowed a look of amused surprise upon Riley. ‘Your brother did not resist Ida’s overtures?’
‘I very much doubt it, but I have no intention of asking him. It would have been a while ago, before Ida developed a penchant for younger men, and I don’t suppose there’s anything Henry could tell me that would aid my investigation. Besides, we have the dubious pleasure of Celia’s company tonight, and although I have little time for Henry’s wife, I wouldn’t embarrass her or my mother by alluding to Henry’s extramarital activities.’
‘Of course you would not, but there’s nothing to prevent you from raising the subject over the port. He’s bound to hear about it and wonder why you didn’t say anything. Now go and get changed, or we will keep your family waiting.’
‘Do I have time to pop up to the nursery and see the prune?’
‘Of course you do, and I shall come with you. We shall have to look for a new nursemaid soon, by the way. Agnes gave notice today. She is engaged to be married.’
‘I am pleased for her in that case, but sorry for you. I know you like her and trust her with Simon.’
‘There is plenty of time to find someone else. She won’t be leaving until the end of the summer.’
With their sleeping son duly admired and fussed over,
